Optimizing Points, Miles and More Listener Q&A

Discount Codes

Rental car savings can be maximized by using discount codes and leveraging credit card benefits. Chris Hutchins shares that many big employers, organizations like AAA, and premium travel cards offer significant discounts. He suggests using aggregators like Kayak for initial searches but emphasizes the importance of checking rental car company websites for discount codes 1.

You'd be surprised to find that you might have access to way more rental car discounts than you know.

--- Chris Hutchins

Additionally, Hutchins advises renting from downtown locations instead of airports to save money and recommends checking sites like Turo for alternative options 1.

   

Booking Tips

Joining loyalty programs and choosing the right booking times can enhance rental car experiences. Chris Hutchins recommends joining rental car loyalty programs, even at the free tier, to skip lines and potentially receive upgrades 2. He also suggests booking without prepaying to allow for rate checks and rebooking if prices drop.

If I'm booking far in advance and the rate is high, I usually won't prepay so I can check back in every few weeks or months to see if the rates have dropped.

--- Chris Hutchins

Hutchins highlights the importance of confirming reservations with local agencies, especially for late arrivals, to ensure car availability 2.